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THE BIG IDEAS The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem

The Definitive Work on Self-Esteem by the Leading Prioneer in the Field
The Six Pillars
Of self-esteem. BY NATHANIEL BRANDEN · BANTAM © 1995 · 368 PAGES

Practice
Create self-esteem.

Living Consciously
Pillar #1. “Apart from disturbance whose roots are biological, I cannot think of a single
psychological problem—from anxiety and depression, to underachievement at school
Self-Acceptance
Pillar #2. or at work, to fear of intimacy, happiness, or success, to alcohol or drug abuse,
Self-Responsibility to spouse battering or child molestation, to co-dependency and sexual disorders,
Pillar #3. to passivity and chronic aimlessness, to suicide and crimes of violence—that is
Self-Assertiveness not traceable, at least in part, to the problem of deficient self-esteem. Of all the
Pillar #4. judgments we pass in life, none is as important as the one we pass on ourselves.”
Living Purposefully ~ Nathaniel Branden from The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem
Pillar #5.

What Must I Do? Nathaniel Branden is a smart dood. Big brain. Very big brain.
Well, what must you do?
He’s the leading authority on the science of self-esteem and, in addition to the big brain/wisdom,
Self-Discipline he has a fascinating life story.
& Self-competence.
Nathaniel met Ayn Rand as a teenager and began an intimate relationship with Ayn and her
Personal Integrity
Pillar #6. work that lasted over 20 years and included highlights such as Ayn deeming Nathaniel the
embodiment of her ideals and Nathaniel helping to create the Objectivist movement. Check out
Pride
Vice or virtue? part one of his fascinating interview with Ken Wilber at his web site (NathanielBranden.com) for
more mojo on that front and to get a personal look at his life and wisdom.
On Following Your Bliss
Deeper reflections.
The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem is, as its sub-title proclaims: “the definitive work on self-esteem by
Small Improvements the leading pioneer in the field.” Branden’s style is rigorously smart yet still approachable (and
Are big.
almost Emersonially quotable :).

In this Note (as with all the others), I’m less interested in giving you an intellectual overview of
the subject and more interested in pulling out some of the many Big Ideas we can *immediately*
“But does anything take
apply to our lives.
more courage—is anything
more challenging and So, let’s get to work. We’ll start with a quick look at the six pillars and then explore some Big

sometimes frightening--than Ideas on how to bring them to life.

to live by our own mind,

judgment, and values? Is
THE SIX PILLARS OF SELF-ESTEEM
not self-esteem a summons 1. The Practice of Living Consciously
to the hero within us?” 2. The Practice of Self-Acceptance
~ Nathaniel Branden 3. The Practice of Self-Responsibility

4. The Practice of Self-Assertiveness

5. The Practice of Living Purposefully

6. The Practice of Personal Integrity

(Please note the use of “The Practice of…” Self-esteem is not an idea. It’s a PRACTICE. :)

1 PhilosophersNotes | The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem

 “To find it humiliating to
admit an error is a certain
sign of a flawed self-
esteem.”
~ Nathaniel Branden
“I cannot be truly myself,
cannot build self-esteem, if
I cannot accept myself.”
~ Nathaniel Branden
2 PhilosophersNotes | The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem
THE PRACTICE OF SELF-ESTEEM
“What determines the level of self-esteem is what the individual does.”
It’s nice to talk about ideas, memorize inspiring words, and get an intellectual understanding of
something. But it’s what we DO that leads to our self-esteem.
Branden continues by saying: “A ‘practice’ implies a discipline of acting in a certain way over and
over again—consistently. It is not action by fits and starts, or even an appropriate response to a
crisis. Rather, it is a way of operating day by day, in big issues and small, a way of behaving that
is also a way of being.”
Beautiful.
Reminds me of George Leonard’s *brilliant* book Mastery (see Notes): “A practice (as a noun)
can be anything you practice on a regular basis as an integral part of your life—not in order to
gain something else, but for its own sake… For a master, the rewards gained along the way are
fine, but they are not the main reason for the journey. Ultimately, the master and the master’s
path are one. And if the traveler is fortunate—that is, if the path is complex and profound
enough—the destination is two miles farther away for every mile he or she travels.”
So, let’s remember it’s NOT about memorizing inspiring words or having stimulating
conversations, it’s about practicing and living our core truths.
How about some Vernon Howard mojo to bring the point home? “You see, knowing the words
is not the same thing as living the meaning. Suppose I memorize the printed instructions on a
first-aid kit. Does that mean I can give first aid? No. The full meaning comes when I admit I
know nothing and then try, practice, succeed.”
SENTENCE COMPLETIONS & LIVING CONSCIOUSLY
“Sentence-completion work is a deceptively simple yet uniquely powerful tool for raising self-
understanding, self-esteem, and personal effectiveness. It rests on the premise that all of us have
more knowledge than we normally are aware of—more wisdom than we use, more potentials
than typically show up in our behavior. Sentence completion is a tool for accessing and activating
these ‘hidden resources.’”
The practice of living consciously is the first pillar of self-esteem.
Throughout the book, Branden brings us back to the practice of sentence completions as a
powerful tool for living more consciously. Super simple, super powerful.
Basic idea: take a sentence stem (like “Living consciously to me means…”) and create 6-10
completions of that sentence. Only rule is that each ending needs to create a grammatical sentence.
Write quickly, don’t stop to “think” and, as Branden says: “Any ending is fine, just keep going.”
Try these on:
• Living consciously to me means…
• If I bring 5 percent more awareness to my activities today…
• If I pay more attention to how I deal with people today…
• If I bring 5 percent more awareness to my insecurities then…
• If I bring 5 percent more awareness to my priorities then…
THE PRACTICE OF SELF-ACCEPTANCE
“We can run not only from our dark side but also from our bright side—from anything that
threatens to make us stand out or stand alone, or that calls for the awakening of the hero within
 us, or that asks that we break through to a higher level of consciousness and reach a higher ground
“Self-esteem is the
of integrity. The greatest crime we commit against ourselves is not that we may deny or disown
reputation we acquire with our shortcomings but that we deny and disown our greatness—because it frightens us. If a fully
ourselves.” realized self-acceptance does not evade the worst within us, neither does it evade the best.”
~ Nathaniel Branden
The practice of self-acceptance. It’s the second pillar of self-esteem. In his chapter dedicated to this
pillar, Branden beautifully and powerful articulates the need to practice self-acceptance—which we
might best be able to sum up as “my refusal to be in an adversarial relationship with myself.”

And, in addition to the acceptance of our light, he advises us that “As a psychotherapist I see
nothing does as much for an individual’s self-esteem as becoming aware of and accepting
disowned parts of the self. The first steps of healing and growth are awareness and acceptance—
consciousness and integration.”

Check out the book for more mojo on integrating the disowned shadows within yourself. For
now, how about a spotlight on the light… Are you accepting your own greatness?

THE PRACTICE OF SELF-RESPONSIBILITY

“I am responsible for my choices and actions. To be ‘responsible’ in this context means
responsible not as the recipient of moral blame or guilt, but responsible as the chief causal agent
in my life and behavior.”

The third pillar of self-esteem: the practice of self-responsibility. We talk about this one *a lot.*
(As you know if you’ve read many of these Notes! :)

“Often what we call Responsibility. Break it up into its two little word-segments: response-able. It’s simple: We’re
‘thinking’ is merely the responsible when we’re “able to respond” to life’s challenges as healthy, autonomous human
beings. NOT as victims, blaming this or that for our challenges or feeling shame or guilt for
recycling the opinions
not living up to someone else’s/society’s standards, but as individuals who own our abilities to
of  others.”
manifest our desires as we engage in life.
~ Nathaniel Branden
So, question time: Can you turn your response-able dial up a notch or two?

THE PRACTICE OF SELF-ASSERTIVENESS

“To practice self-assertiveness is to live authentically, to speak and act from my innermost
convictions and feelings—as a way of life, as a rule.”

The practice of self-assertiveness. It’s the fourth pillar of self-esteem.

The essence of this pillar is to be REAL.

To drive this point home, remember the idea that “authentic” and “author” come from the same
root. To be authentic is literally to be the author of your own story. Are you?

Here’s another angle on the power and practice of self-assertiveness: “Warren Bennis, our
preeminent scholar of leadership, tells us that the basic passion in the best leaders he has studied
is for self-expression. Their work is clearly a vehicle for self-actualization. Their desire is to bring
‘who they are’ into the world, into reality, which I speak of as the practice of self-assertiveness.”

THE PRACTICE OF LIVING PURPOSEFULLY

“To trust one’s mind and
“To live purposefully is to use our powers for the attainment of goals we have selected: the goal
to know that one is worthy
of studying, of raising a family, of earning a living, of starting a new business, of bringing a new
of happiness is the essence
product into the marketplace, of solving a scientific problem, of building a vacation home, of
of  self-esteem.”
sustaining a happy romantic relationship. It is our goals that lead us forward, that call on the
~ Nathaniel Branden exercise of our faculties, that energize our existence.”

PhilosophersNotes | The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem 3


“It’s not that achievements
prove our worth but
rather that the process
of achieving is the means
by which we develop
our effectiveness, our
competence at living.”
~ Nathaniel Branden
“The challenge for people
today, and it is not an easy
one, is to maintain high
personal standards while
feeling that one is living in a
moral sewer.”
~ Nathaniel Branden
4 PhilosophersNotes | The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem
Living purposefully. It’s the fifth pillar.
Lest you think goal setting is not for “spiritual” peeps, consider this: “Understood correctly, there
is nothing intrinsically ‘Western’ about a strong goal orientation. When Buddha set out in search
of enlightenment, was he not moved by a passionate purpose?”
So, what’re your goals?
What deeply inspires you?!? Not what you think you *should* do or that you think would
impress others, but the visions that deeply resonate with your highest values and ideals!
Are you clear?
Are you living in integrity with ‘em?
WHAT MUST I DO?
“People rarely ask themselves, ‘If my goal is to have a successful relationship, what must I
do? What actions are needed to create and sustain trust, intimacy, continuing self-disclosure,
excitement, growth?’ … When a couple is newly married and very happy, it is useful to ask, ‘What
is your action plan to sustain these feelings?’”
First question: What do you want?
Second question: What must you do?
Whether it’s a powerful relationship, business or body, what’s your ideal and what must you do?
As Branden reminds us: “Purposes unrelated to a plan of action do not get realized. They exist as
frustrated yearnings.”
SELF-DISCIPLINE & SELF-COMPETENCE
“No one can feel competent to cope with the challenges of life who is without the capacity for
self-discipline. Self-discipline requires the ability to defer immediate gratification in the service
of a remote goal. This is the ability to project consequences into the future—to think, plan, and
live long-range.”
Self-discipline and delaying gratification.
Two hallmarks to psychological health we discuss often in these Notes.
I love Nietzsche’s wisdom on self-discipline (see Notes on Thus Spoke Zarathustra): “He who
cannot command himself should obey. And many can command themselves, but much is still
lacking before they can obey themselves.”
And Lao-tzu (see Notes on the Tao te Ching) reminds us this isn’t a “Western” thing: “He who
controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still.” And:
“Don’t think you can attain total awareness and whole enlightenment without proper discipline
and practice. This is egomania. Appropriate rituals channel your emotions and life energy
toward the light. Without the discipline to practice them, you will tumble constantly backward
into darkness.”
So… How’s your self-discipline practice?
PERSONAL INTEGRITY
“Integrity is the integration of ideals, convictions, standards, beliefs—and behavior. When
our behavior is congruent with our professed values, when ideals and practice match up, we
have integrity.
Observe that before the issue of integrity can even be raised we need principles of behavior—moral

“Integrity means
congruence. Words and
behavior match.”
~ Nathaniel Branden
“At the simplest level,
personal integrity entails
such questions as: Am
I honest, reliable, and
trustworthy? Do I keep
my promises? Do I do the
things I say I admire and do
I avoid the things I say I
deplore? Am I fair and just
in my dealings with others?”
~ Nathaniel Branden
PhilosophersNotes | The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem
convictions about what is and is not appropriate—judgments about right and wrong action. If we
do not yet hold standards, we are on too low a developmental rung even to be accused of hypocrisy.
In such a case, our problems are too severe to be described merely as lack of integrity.”
The practice of personal integrity. It’s the sixth and final pillar of self-esteem. Without it, the
preceding practices “disintegrate.”
Do your ideals, convictions, standards, beliefs AND behavior all line up?
And, perhaps even more importantly, do you even have a sense of what your ideals, convictions,
standards and beliefs ARE to use as a basis for your measurement of how you’re doing?!?
Well, do you?
… And, are they? :)
PRIDE: VICE OR VIRTUE?
“Pride is the emotional reward of achievement. It is not a vice to be overcome but a value to
be  attained.”
Why are we conditioned to believe pride is a vice? I prefer Branden’s take: “Self-esteem
contemplates what needs to be done and says, ‘I can.’ Pride contemplates what has been
accomplished and says, ‘I did.’”
While we’re here, time for a quick Top 5.
What are the five things you’re most proud of?
1. _______________________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________________________
4. _______________________________________________________________
5. _______________________________________________________________
(Well done! :)
ON FOLLOWING YOUR OWN BLISS
“Discussing the complexities of moral decision making in a lecture once, I was asked what I
thought of Joseph Campbell’s counsel to ‘Follow your own bliss.’ Did I believe it was ethically
appropriate? I answered that while I liked what I believed to be Campbell’s basic intention, his
statement could be dangerous if divorced from a rational context. I suggested this modification
(if I were forced to condense my ideas on morality into a single sentence): ‘Live consciously—
take responsibility for your choices and actions—respect the rights of others—and follow your
own bliss.’ I added that as a piece of moral advice I loved the Spanish proverb ‘Take what you
want,’ said God, ‘and pay for it.’ … But of course complex moral decisions cannot be made simply
on the basis of statements such as these, helpful though they may sometimes be. A moral life
requires serious reflection.”
I’ve created three Notes on Joseph Campbell’s work (see Notes on Pathways to Bliss, The Power
of Myth, and A Joseph Campbell Companion) and I’ve been asked, “What happens when evil
people follow their bliss?” a number of times, so I dig this distinction:
“Live consciously—take responsibility for your choices and actions—respect the rights of others—
and follow your own bliss.”
Amen.
5
 “A commitment to lifelong
learning is a natural
expression of the practice
of living consciously.”
~ Nathaniel Branden
If you liked this Note,
you’ll probably like…
Ken Wilber
Strength for Life
Mastery
Meditations
Thus Spoke Zarathustra
The Power of
Your  Supermind
The Dhammapada
6 PhilosophersNotes | The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem
SMALL IMPROVEMENTS ARE BIG
“These practices are ideals to guide us. And—this can hardly be overemphasized—they do not
have to be lived ‘perfectly’ 100 percent of the time in order to have a beneficent impact on our
lives. Small improvements make a difference.”
Love it. Perfection is NOT the standard we’re looking for here. In fact, perfection is the LOWEST
standard we could possibly set. Why? Because it’s impossible to attain.
Let’s remember to honor the power of small improvements. As the Buddha says in The
Dhammapada (see Notes): “Little by little a person become evil, as a water pot is filled by drops
of water… Little by little a person becomes good, as a water pot is filled by drops of water.”
And, Vernon Howard reminds us: “Do not be impatient with your seemingly slow progress.
Do not try to run faster than you presently can. If you are studying, reflecting and trying, you
are making progress whether you are aware of it or not. A traveler walking the road in the
darkness of night is still going forward. Someday, some way, everything will break open, like
the natural unfolding of a rosebud.”
How about Nietzsche? “He who would learn to fly one day must learn to stand and walk and
run and climb and dance; one cannot fly into flying.”
Yep. It’s clear. Let’s honor the small improvements we’re making as we develop our self-esteem
and live more and more radiantly conscious lives,
Brian Johnson,
Chief Philosopher
About the Author of “The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem”
NATHANIEL BRANDEN
Psychotherapist and philosopher Nathaniel Branden, Ph.D. is a lecturer,
practicing psychotherapist, and author of twenty books on the psychology of self-
esteem, romantic love, and the life and thought of Objectivist philosopher Ayn
Rand. His work has been translated into 18 languages and has sold over 4 million
copies, and includes such titles as Taking Responsibility, The Six Pillars of Self
Esteem, and My Years with Ayn Rand.
The name Nathaniel Branden has become synonymous with the psychology of
self-esteem, a field he began pioneering over thirty years ago. In that time, he
has done more than any other theorist to advocate the importance of self-esteem
to human well-being, a mission which began with his involvement in Objectivist
philosopher Ayn Rand’s “Inner Circle.” (from NathanielBranden.com where
you can learn more!)
About the Author of This Note
BRIAN JOHNSON
Brian Johnson is a lover of wisdom (aka a “Philosopher”) and a passionate
student of life who’s committed to inspiring and empowering millions of people
to live their greatest lives as he studies, embodies and shares the universal truths
of optimal living. He harts his job.